Echeveria plant named ‘AMIECH1602’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Echeveria pulidonis cultivar named ‘AMIECH1602’ which is characterized by a flattened globular plant shape with thick succulent foliage tightly arranged in a compact rosette, broad obovate to broad oblanceolate foliage with an obtusely cuspidate apex, foliage which is upwardly curled, foliage which is moderately pruinose with a blue-grey general coloration and pink margins, as well as the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria pulidonis E.Walther.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘AMIECH1602’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2016/2027, filed Aug. 19, 2016, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘AMIECH1602’ is a seedling selection resulting from theself-pollination of the species, Echeveria pulidonis (unnamed andunpatented). The self-pollination event occurred in the summer of 2009at a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Seed washarvested by the inventor, then germinated, and the resulting seedlingswere then grown to a mature size. In spring of 2011, one seedling wasobserved to exhibit unique foliage characteristics and growth habit. Theseedling was isolated for further evaluation in order to confirm thedistinctness and stability of the characteristics first observed. Uponconfirmation of distinctness and stability, ‘AMIECH1602’ was selectedfor commercialization in the summer of 2011.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘AMIECH1602’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe spring of 2012 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse inHeerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Through six subsequent generations, theunique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true totype.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘AMIECH1602’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘AMIECH1602’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘AMIECH1602’ as a new and distinct Echeveria pulidoniscultivar:

-   -   1. ‘AMIECH1602’ exhibits thick, succulent foliage with an        upwardly curved attitude and tightly arranged in a compact        rosette; and    -   2. ‘AMIECH1602’ exhibits broad obovate to broad oblanceolate        foliage with an obtusely cuspidate apex; and    -   3. ‘AMIECH1602’ exhibits moderately pruinose foliage; and    -   4. ‘AMIECH1602’ exhibits foliage with a blue-grey general        coloration with pink margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘AMIECH1602’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Heerhugowaard, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 9 months old, shown planted inan 8.5 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘AMIECH1602.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the foliage color from thecenter of the rosette (juvenile foliage) to the outer most whorl of therosette (mature foliage) of ‘AMIECH1602’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘AMIECH1602’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2016describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 9 months old‘AMIECH1602’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Heerhugowaard, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal irrigation and fertilizer applications, andchemical pest and disease control measures against mealy bug andBotrytis as required. Plants were grown under approximately 50 percentshade after propagation and later exposed to full sun once they began tomature. No photoperiodic treatments or artificial light was given to theplants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘AMIECH1602’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘AMIECH1602’ and a comparison with the parentand closest known comparator, Echeveria pulidonis, is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant shape.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—5.5 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 11.3 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Low.        -   Plant vigor.—Low.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 21 to 35 days at 18 degrees Celsius. Crop            time — Approximately 18 to 22 weeks to produce a marketable            plant in an 11 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria agavoides            pests and diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 62 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Thick, succulent leaves which are obovate to broad            oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—5.3 cm long, 2.0 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly concave and carinate.        -   Attitude.—Slightly to moderately curved upward.        -   Apex.—Obtusely cuspidate, with point curling downward.        -   Base.—Cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; not undulated or lobed.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; heavily pruinose,            colored greyed-green, in between RHS 188B and 188C.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; heavily pruinose,            colored greyed-green, in between RHS 188B and 188C.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Greyed-green,            nearest to RHS 191A, and fading lighter towards the base,            nearest to RHS 193A; margins are considerably lighter, in            between RHS 192C and 192D; apex and margins nearest to the            apex are greyed-purple, in between RHS 185B and 185C.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, in between            RHS 191A and 191B, and fading lighter towards the base, in            between RHS 193B and 193C; margins are considerably lighter,            in between RHS 192C and 192D; apex and margins near the apex            are greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 185B. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to RHS 148B, and            fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS 147D; base            is red-purple, nearest to RHS 63C; margins are greyed-green,            in between RHS 192C and 192D; apex and margins nearest to            the apex are greyed-red, in between RHS 182A and 182B.            Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Yellow-green, in between            RHS 148B to 148C, and fading lighter towards the base,            nearest to RHS 147D; base is red-purple, nearest to RHS 63C;            margins are greyed-green, in between RHS 193A and 193B; apex            and margins nearest to the apex are greyed-red, in between            RHS 182A and 182B.        -   Venation.—No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.-   Comparisons with the parent plant and closest known comparator:    Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH1602’ differ from the parent,    Echeveria pulidonis, which is also the closest known comparator, in    the following characteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘AMIECH1602’ Echeveria pulidonis Leaf thickness.Thicker than the parent. Thinner than ‘AMIECH1602’. Leaf apex. Obtuselycuspidate. Acutely cuspidate. Leaf width. Wider than the parent.Narrower than ‘AMIECH1602’. General coloration Heavily pruinose,Moderately pruinose, of mature foliage. giving the foliage giving thefoliage a a greyed-green to greyed-green blue-grey appearance.appearance. Mature foliage; Pink. Dark red-purple. general coloration ofthe margins.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘AMIECH1606’ differ from the commercialvariety, Echeveria agavoides ‘Hercules ’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,230),in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘AMIECH1606’ ‘Hercules’ Plant size Larger than‘Hercules’. Smaller than ‘AMIECH1602’. General coloration Heavilypruinose, giving Moderately pruinose, of mature foliage. the foliage agreyed-green giving the foliage a to blue-grey appearance. greyed-greenappearance. Mature foliage; In between RHS 182A and RHS 183C; appearinggeneral coloration 182B; appearing as pink. as greyed-red. of the apexand margins

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriapulidonis plant named ‘AMIECH1602’, substantially as described andillustrated herein.